The Cloudsplitter Vol. 77 No. 2 April-June 2014 published by the ALBANY CHAPTER of the ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB The Cloudsplitter is published quarterly by the Albany Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club and is distributed to the membership. All issues (January, April, July, and October) feature activities schedules, trip reports, and other articles of interest to the outdoor enthusiast. All outings should now be entered on the web site www.adk-albany.org . Echoes should be entered on the web site www.adk-albany.org with your login information. The Albany Chapter may be Please send your address and For Club orders & membership For Cloudsplitter related issues, reached at: phone number changes to: call (800) 395-8080 or contact the Editor at: Albany Chapter ADK Adirondack Mountain Club e-mail: [email protected] The Cloudsplitter Empire State Plaza 814 Goggins Road home page: www.adk.org c/o Karen Ross P.O. Box 2116 Lake George, NY 12845-4117 7 Bird Road Albany, NY 12220 phone: (518) 668-4447 Lebanon Spgs., NY 12125 home page: fax: (518) 668-3746 e-mail: [email protected] www.adk-albany.org Submission deadline for the next issue of The Cloudsplitter is May 15, 2014 and will be for the months of July, August, and September, 2014. Many thanks to Gail Carr for her lovely spring drawing of "Jack-in-the-pulpits with frog." April 2, May 7, and June 4 (1st Wednesdays) Business Meeting of Chapter Officers and Committees 6:00 p.m. at Little’s Lake in Menands Chapter members are encouraged to attend - please call John Sheehan at 674-8121 Chapter Meetings are held at the West Albany Fire House (Station #1), 113 Sand Creek Road, Albany. Education Sessions start at 6:30 prior to the membership meeting. Programs begin following the Chapter business meeting. Refreshments are served after the meetings. April 8 (2nd Tuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 6:30 P.M. Education Session: Outfitting a Kayak-- It’s time to get your kayak ready for the paddling season. We will look at improving the fit and function of flat water kayaks, including seating, back bands, decklines, hatches, and more. Program: African Sojourn: Mt. Kilimanjaro and Beyond-- Jean Quattrocchi will share with us not only the sights and experiences of her recent trip to Africa, but will explain her preparation and execution strategies. For example, she stopped overnight in Holland to help her adjust to the time change. She continued on to her seven-day expedition to the summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, the continent’s tallest peak. She then took a wildlife safari in Tanzania after which she visited the Malawi village for which she and her students helped raise funds to purchase and install a lifesaving fresh water pump. May 13 (2nd Tuesday) ANNUAL BANQUET Mallozzi's Clubhouse at Western Turnpike Golf Course, Western Avenue, Guilderland, NY 12084. Gathering begins at 6:00 p.m.. Dinner at 7:00 p.m. See flyer p. 22. PRESENTATION BY JON BOWERMASTER, Writer, Filmmaker and Adventurer June 10 (2ndTuesday) MONTHLY CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING 6:30 P.M. Education Session: Summer Gear Sale-- Bring your extra camping and hiking gear to the sale. Similar to our winter gear sale in January, we ask that sellers donate 10% to the Chapter. Please tag your gear with a price and your name. We will not have an education session this month, to make room and time for the sale. Program: Potpourri Night-- Now it's your turn to share tales of the wild outdoors and adventures with your fellow Club members. We will look forward to your wowing us with your slides or photos (Power Point preferred). To get on the roster, contact Thea Hoeth at [email protected] 2 ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES FITNESS: Know your level of fitness and limitations. The trip leader will ask questions about your experience, fitness, equipment, medical condition, expectations, etc. Be Honest! TRIP RATINGS: Understand that the level of effort is not the same as the level of difficulty. Trip ratings are for level of effort. Realize that “moderate” for a physically fit person may mean outrageously strenuous for a novice and/or unconditioned person. HIKERS EFFORT ELEVATION MILES TIME RATING LEVEL GAIN (FEET) (HOURS) A+ Very Strenuous 4,000+ 10+ 10+ A Strenuous 3,000+ 5 – 10 8 – 10 B+ Moderately Strenuous 2,000+ 5 – 10 6 – 8 B Moderate 1,000+ 8 --10 5 – 7 C+ Fairly Easy 1,000+ 5 – 8 4 – 6 C Easy Under 1,000 Under 5 Under 5 Not all trips fit cleanly into one of these categories. Whenever you are unclear about a rating for a trip, leaders will be happy to explain what their designated rating means. PADDLERS MILES PORTAGES WATER CLASS A 12+ Long (½ mile+) II – Whitewater B 6 – 12 Short I – Moving C Under 6 None Flat BIKERS MILES TERRAIN A 30+ Moderate to steep B 15-30 Moderate C Less than 15 Flat to Moderate Please Note: Unless otherwise stated, please sign up with the leader for all Chapter activities. Do not simply show up at the designated meeting place. Arrive at the carpooling site before the stated departure time. Please pay the driver to offset the costs of driving. Do not bring a pet unless the trip leader agrees that it is okay, and bring a leash. Please stay with the group or ask to proceed and stop at the first intersection and wait for the entire group to re-assemble. You are expected to carry adequate equipment, water and food. If in doubt about what to bring, ask the trip leader! Suggestions for all seasons: Water: 2 - 3 Quarts Layered Clothing (NO cotton) Extra Socks Hat Shell (wind & rain) Extra Sweater or Jacket Headlamp Gloves Sturdy Boots Sun Glasses/Screen (SPF 15) First Aid Kit Food Map & Compass Waterproof Matches Emergency Blanket Winter Add-ons: Skis or Snowshoes Crampons Ski Pole or Ice Axe Extra Food Warm liquids Extra layers 3 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN I have made it my objective as Chapter Chair to have all of our officer and committee chair positions filled with persons whose experience and skills fit the position. That has worked out, as we have great resources to draw from in the Albany Chapter. I would like to introduce our new Treasurer, Steve Cornell. Steve is also a retired CPA who spent his career with the NYS Office of Audit & Control. Since the treasurer is an elected position, Steve was voted in as interim treasurer by the Executive Committee to finish the current term until the June elections. There will be other changes in elected positions which will be on the ballot to be distributed in May. Changes in non-elected positions include Gene Reilly as Trails Chair and Sandy Costanzo as Banquet Chair. Club wide, we also have a significant change in leadership. Jim Bird has term-limited out of the position as Club President. John Gilewicz, of the Niagara Frontier Chapter, was voted in by the Board of Directors at the December meeting. The December Board of Directors meeting also produced a very interesting discussion. One of the directors introduced a motion for the club to divest itself of any fossil fuel stock as a philosophical stand more in line with the “green” mission of the club. The outcome of the discussion was that such divestment, of what amounts to about 4% of our portfolio, is not possible due to the way fossil fuel stocks are integrated into the mutual fund accounts. The alternative that came out of the discussion was for the Club to take some positive steps to reduce our carbon footprint. There is currently movement toward establishing a committee to explore alternative energy options for ADK facilities. In addition to reducing our use of fossil fuel, it will also support the Green Energy industry, and that is very much in line with the mission of the Club. If anyone has any expertise in the field of alternative energy and would like to volunteer to help out, contact me and I can put you in touch with the appropriate person. This all sounds very business-like and it is. Even though we are a not-for-profit corporation, ADK is still a business, and the reason the Club is 90 years old and still healthy is because the officers put so much thought into these decisions. But remember, we are still an outdoor club--so get out and enjoy the snow while you can and the warmth of spring when it arrives. --- John Sheehan, Spring, 2014 Albany ADK Members Annual Photo Contest The Albany Chapter of ADK presents the Albany ADK Members Annual Photo Contest. Some of the most beautiful images of our natural world are captured through the camera lenses of Albany ADK members. For the contest, we invite you to submit your photos in any of the following four categories: 1. Scenic Nature 2.People Outdoors 3. Wildlife 4.Wildflowers/Fungi Only current Albany Chapter Members are eligible to enter the contest. Prizes will be presented at the Annual Banquet on May 13, 2014. You do not need to be present to receive your award. The deadline for submission of photos is April 10, 2014. Winners will be notified on or about May 1, 2014. Photos being submitted must be taken in the Northeast. We want ADK members to be able to visit and enjoy the general areas where the photos are taken. Some of the most dramatic and inspirational moments from nature can be captured in the Adirondacks, the Catskills, nature preserves, and other wilderness areas of the Northeastern states.